It is difficult for me to write about days like today without feeling totally and utterly blessed to be alive. I am staying in a hotel on the Kassandria finger just east and south of Thessaloniki, Greece. This morning I attended a seminar provided by the Assemblies of God in Eastern Europe. There are missionaries here representing work in 10 nations. The focus thus far has been on the maintenance of mental and family health for lifetime field missionaries. Eastern Europe is one of the most difficult regions in the world to serve long term. The speaker gave a definition of shame which I found to be very useful. Shame comes from a belief that one is intrinsically bad. If we believe in a Creator God, then to believe that we are intrinsically bad is to believe that what God made is irredeemably flawed. If we are Christians, however, we believe in the redemption of our beings through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. We are in fact redeemed, therefor shame has no true place in our lives. Shame is not of God, shame is one of the lies we have been told by the snake who’s head God declared we would one day crush. I come from a strong shame tradition; a tradition which permeates every facet of American culture. Think on what I am saying.
The beauty of this place is inescapable; from the first dawning light to the blood orange moon sliver’s announcement of dusk. Seven of us are here representing Albania. The Plagenhoefs number four, and there is a mother and daughter duo from the Midwest who serve under pastor Barry at the International Church in Tirana. After crossing the Albanian-Greek border we started to notice the Greek Orthodox buildings which are so distinct of shape and all carry a cross atop their highest point. Some of these buildings appeared to be quite small from the road, and I was left to speculate as to what function they might serve. There is one such building on the grounds of this hotel, and it is called The Church of Saint Anargyri.
Within this tiny building is a trove of Orthodox artwork. There are about six paintings which represent two men whom I had assumed were Peter and Paul.
Cosmas and Damian are the true names of these men, names I had never known before. These twin brothers were executed for their refusal to recant their Christian faith during the Diocletian Persecution in 287. Three of their brothers were executed as well. They had been physicians who would take no money for their services. Can you even imagine that kind of a witness to the people of America? There are thousands of stories of saints like these in the Orthodox tradition just awaiting discovery by someone as ignorant to the heritage of our faith as I am. It is important to remember the martyrs.
And so, here I am. I am surrounded by the beauty of fellowship, the beauty of God’s creation, and the beauty of our tradition. This is a peace bringing place.
albaniacalling 